The Minister of National Education stands behind a principal threatened with death.
The director of the Maurice-Ravel high school, located in the 20th arrondissement of Paris, received such threats on social networks after asking students to remove their veils on February 28.
Nicole Belloubet denounced “unacceptable attacks”.
“School establishments can only operate within the framework of respecting the principles of the Republic,” she said, during her visit to this high school.
In this context, secularism is an essential element of living together.
» The minister assured that she had reacted “as soon as we became aware of the facts” to “form a protective shield around the establishment and its staff”.
At the Maurice Ravel high school, I wanted to give my full support to the principal and the educational team.
This support is not just words.
These are measures implemented immediately, concerning the security of the principal, the establishment and social networks ↓ pic.twitter.com/FNzJ34WX4J
— Nicole Belloubet (@NBelloubet) March 5, 2024
During her visit, she was notably accompanied by the police chief Laurent Nuñez.
“Three of us reacted: the academic services, the police and of course the judicial authority,” added Nicole Belloubet, before detailing the measures put in place to protect the threatened principal.
According to her, “functional protection” was provided to her.
Mobile academic teams were deployed “in support inside the establishment” and law enforcement outside.
The minister also mentioned “psychological support”.
An open investigation, two complaints
Finally, work on social networks was carried out, “in connection with the Pharos platform”.
“Inaccurate elements, erroneous narratives are being spread on its networks,” regretted Nicole Belloubet.
These errors can be extremely dangerous.
»
According to the rumor spread particularly on social networks, the principal slapped the student in question.
Questioned by Le Parisien, the person claimed that he had “pushed” and “hit her violently on the arm”.
In solidarity with their comrade, students blocked the establishment, closed all day Friday.
While an investigation into cyberharassment was opened, the principal and the high school student each filed a complaint.
Nicole Belloubet claimed that the principal had not slapped her: “that’s incorrect,” she repeated.
The student also admitted to not having been slapped when she was received by the academy this Monday March 4.
According to the account of the academic director of Paris, the principal asked two students to remove their veils.
One of them removed it, while the other “did not want to hear what he was saying.”
“As she didn't hear him, he put his hand on her back to let her know that there was someone behind her,” recalled Valérie Baglin-Le Goff.